TRAINING EX ICE MAIDENIt is on high time I post my memories from the great training I did with the Ice Maidens last year.And that is because I want to give them a huge CONGRATULATION on their achievement!!!

They managed to cross Antarctica!!!The Ice Maiden team made their mark in the history books by becoming the first female team to ski across Antarctica cover 1,700km using muscle-power alone and with only two resupplies. After 61 days on the ice they skied from the 80th into the 79th degree and completed their epic Antarctic crossing. ​​The Ice Maiden team are all serving in the British Army or Army Reserve.

I remember first time I met the two initiators, Nat and Nicks.We met at the airport in Oslo. They only had some few hours in between flights, but I knew it right away; they can do it!I remember they were so humble and they asked me after we had talked for a bit; do you think it is realistic? Do you think we can do it?My answer was clear; yes you can! I belived in them from day one, and now I am so proud of them!I had the honor and privilege to be their instructor at their training and selection prior to their huge achievement.We met twice for training in the northern part of Norway and we enjoyed great days in freezing cold, high wind and actually very little snow...but enough to walk for days without seeing anything but reindeer and some reindeer herders on their snowmobiles. We trained navigating in whiteout....well, not quite true as we used the black hours of the day as our "whiteout", we trained rescue from crevasses.... well, also not quite true as we didn't have any crevasses so we used some frozen waterfalls and some small snowy canyons. And we walked for hours and hours to train the efficiency in having breaks with all the tasks needed to be done in only 10 minutes and starting on time. We trained on setting camps and being efficient in our work in the tent and in the camps. And we trained all this small things that means so much when you are living in harsh conditions. ...like using a pee funnel, melting snow in the most efficient way, repairing the stove and the sled and the tents, shoes, gloves,....

They went from 22 girls to 4 (plus Nat and Nicks) and I had the privilege to get to know them all and to spend so great days together with them in the cold!Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS to you!!!